India-Pakistan Tensions Ground Over 200 Flights, Force Closure of 18 Airports
Amid escalating tensions following Indian military strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), air travel across northern and western India saw widespread disruption on Wednesday, with over 200 flights cancelled and 18 airports temporarily shut down.
Amid escalating tensions following Indian military strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), air travel across northern and western India saw widespread disruption on Wednesday, with over 200 flights cancelled and 18 airports temporarily shut down.
The Indian armed forces carried out coordinated airstrikes on nine terror camps, including those belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. The strikes came in retaliation for the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. In response, aviation authorities enforced heightened security measures, leading to the suspension of operations at several key airports — including Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jammu, Pathankot, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala, and Jamnagar.
Domestic carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, along with several international airlines, halted flights in and out of affected areas.
IndiGo was among the worst-hit, cancelling around 165 flights. Sources said Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport alone saw 35 cancellations between midnight and morning, including 23 domestic departures, eight arrivals, and four international services. American Airlines and other foreign operators also temporarily withdrew their flights.
Air India issued a statement confirming suspension of services to Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until 5:29 am on May 10, citing government directives. The airline offered impacted passengers free rescheduling or full refunds.
IndiGo also grounded all its flights for the day at major northern airports. The airline posted an update on X, noting expected network-wide changes and advised passengers to monitor real-time updates before travelling.
SpiceJet suspended operations to and from Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla, and Amritsar until the early hours of May 10. Akasa Air cancelled all Srinagar flights, while Star Air suspended services on several regional routes, including Nanded, Hindon, Adampur, Kishangarh, and Bhuj.
Air India Express reported cancellations on routes including Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, and Hindon, warning of widespread network disruptions without providing a definite timeline for resumption.
US-based United Airlines also cancelled its services to Delhi, citing increased regional tensions after India’s Operation Sindoor. The airline stated it would continue monitoring the situation and update passengers as necessary.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the operator of IGI Airport, issued an advisory about possible delays and cancellations due to shifting airspace regulations. The ripple effects reached international carriers as well — Qatar Airways halted flights to Pakistan after the country closed its airspace in response to the Indian airstrikes.
In Bengaluru, Kempegowda International Airport issued a public notice acknowledging flight cancellations on May 7 due to the ongoing airspace restrictions and advised travelers to confirm flight statuses with their respective airlines before arriving at the airport.
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